WASHINGTON (WUSA9) -- Ever wonder what happened to some of the people at the center of some of the incredible news stories we've brought you?
One year ago, we told you about the zookeeper attacked by a zebra at the National Zoo. On Tuesday, WUSA9's Debra Alfarone talked to Wayne Millner about his incredible recovery and what made the difference between life and death.
Millner shared his first recollection of that fateful day, saying "The first indication that anything was wrong was that the zebra bit my ear off."
This is a story of survival one year in the making. Doctors say the now-retired zookeeper wasn't supposed to live.
"I had no choice, I was basically in a fight for my life. I just remember saying I don't think I can do this," Milner said.
It was November 2013. Millner had worked at the National Zoo for more than two decades. One day at work, a gate was open and a Grevy zebra weighing 850 pounds mauled him, biting his ear, arm, stomach, and upper and lower leg.
Exactly one year later, Millner and six other George Washington University Hospital trauma unit patients were given the opportunity to say thank you.
Dr. Babak Sarani says that these patients are alive against all odds. He says it's partly due to the medical services provided by the entire hospital team, but he says there's just one more thing that helped save them.
"Number one, willpower. Everything starts with the patient so their desire to live, their persevering through all that suffering and pain, that is the most important," Dr. Sarani said.
The National Zoo released a safety report following Millner's tragic injury, blaming it on human error.
"I probably made a mistake...there was a door that should have been locked or tied off and somehow he got out of it," Millner admitted.
The last year has been one of healing, reflection and now retirement. This is the kind of experience that helps you crystallize valuable insight.
"It's a shame to see so many people have life and treat it so cheaply and shoot people and all this other stuff then you've got people who are begging to stay alive and fighting cancer and whatever and they're just doing whatever they can to stay alive and these other people just don't realize how valuable it is and what it's worth and they're just treating it like it's nothing."
WATCH: The full uncut version of the Debra Alfarone's interview with Millner.
